Screw driver



NOV. 8, 1949 A T LOEWY 2,487,155

scREw DRU/ER Filed OCT.. 20, 1945 di al' lll [4 f f l IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 8, 1 949 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCREW DRIVER Albert T. Loewy, New York, N. Y.

Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,493

3 Claims. (Cl. 145-61) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in screw drivers or similar turning tools. y.

The invention proposes overcoming an inherent deciency in present day screw drivers. When screws are rusted in or driven in very tightly, the present day screw drivers provide no leverage by which the screws may be easily loosened. For this reason it is especially difficult to loosen screws of this nature.

The present invention proposes to characterize a screw driver with a large radial fin-like protuberance at the bottom portion of its handle and against which the palm of ones hand may be engaged for providing good leverage for loosening or tightening screws, bolts and the like.

The invention also proposes constructing the handle of the screw driver so that 'it is tapered with the small dimension at the top whereby the lingers of one hand may be readily cocked around the tapered top end for supporting the screw driver So that it may easily turn when the iinlike protuberance is struck with the palm of the other hand.

The invention also proposes to so construct the screw driver that it has a removable shank readily replaced with similar other Shanks so that each screw driver may be supplied with a setl of different shanks having identical shafts but different heads for engaging the heads of diierent types, kinds and sizes of bolts and screws. For example, the heads of the Shanks may be adapted to engage the regular slot type of screw, or Philips or Reed-Prince headed screws.

Still further the invention proposes to construct the handle of the screw driver hollow so that a double ended shank may beremovably mounted in the screw driver whereby either end, or head, may be used, and whereby each end, or head is adapted for engaging a different size or type of screw.

The invention also proposes a particularly simple construction for releasably holding the shank in position.

It is another object of this invention to construct the new and improved screw driver of a minimum number of simple parts so that it may be manufactured and sold at an exceptionally lou7 cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a screw driver constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion thereof being broken away to disclose interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3.

The new and improved screw driver or turning tool, in accordance with this invention, includes a cylindrical-like handle I0. Preferably, this handle is tapered and arranged with the small end at the top so that it may easily be rotatively supported between the ngers of one hand. The handle I0 is formed with grooves II which may extend its full length providing a roughened Surface to facilitate gripping the handle while using the screw driver. A metal shell I 2 is mounted within the handle I0 and extends from the bottom of the handle to a point near the top. This metal shell I2 has a large iin-like protuberance I4 projecting radially of and through the bottom portion of the handle I0 against which the palm of ones hand is adapted to be engaged for providing a leverage by which the screw driver may be easily turned for loosening rusted in screws or tightly driven in screws, or for driving Screws tightly in position.

v The metal shell I2 is constructed from a forging, or casting, or of sheet metal which is bent to present a hollow portion I5 of round or other shape in transverse cross section and extending axially through the handle IIJ. At the bottom portion, the shell I2 continues laterally into the radial lin-like protuberance I4. More specifically, from the hollow round portion I5 the side walls of the shell I2 continue into a relatively narrow laterally projecting hollow portion I6 which continues into adjacent portions I4 which are connected or welded together to form the fin-like protuberance I4. The iin-like protuberance I 4 is formed with side grooves I8 extended inwards from its outer edge along its side faces which may be used to engage the closed arms of cotter pins, or for other purposes.

A screw engaging shank I9 is releasibly mounted in and projects from the shell I2 coaxially from the bottom of handle I0. More particularly, the screw engaging shank I9 has a central round shaft portion 20 and end or head portions ZI and 22 projecting from the shaft portion 20. The head portions 2| and 22 are shaped or fashioned to engage screws of diierent sizes or designs, or the heads of bolts and nuts. The shaft portion 20 is adapted to slide into the open end of the round portion I5 of the shell I2. The shaft portion '20 is also provided with a laterally projecting longitudinally extending key portion 24 cooperative with a pair of abutment plates 25 which are mounted or welded upon the opposite faces of the hollow portion IB of the metal shell I2. The key portion 24 holds the screw engaging shank I9 from turning. It also serves to properly guide the screw engaging shank I9 into its position on and in the handle I0.

The screw engaging shank I9 is associated with a simple but reliable means for releasibly holding it in position. This means comprises a leaf spring 26 which is mounted within the hollow portion I6 and which has a projecting portion 21 normally engaging a niche 28 formed in the edge of the key portion 24 for releasibly holding the shank I9. The spring 25 is as wide as the interior of the hollow I6. The curved portion 2l' also normally rests within recesses '28 formed in the edges of the abutment plates 25.

The operation of the device may be understood from the following:

The screw driver may be used in the usual way. However, when it is desired to tightly drive in screws or to remove tight screws the handle It is held between the fingers so that the screw driver is rotative, and then the large iin-like protuberance I4 is pressed or struck smartly with the palm of the hand. The shank I9 may be removed by merely gripping it and pulling so as to cause the resilient portion 2l of the spring 26 to release the key portion 24. The shank i9 may be turned around so that the head 22 is out and the head 2| is housed within the shell I2. The heads 2I and 22 are of diiierent size and designs to fit diierent sizes or types of screws, bolts, nuts and the like. An entire set of shanks, similar to the shank I9, may be provided with each screw driver or turning tool for tting an entire series of different sizes or designs of screws, nuts, bolts and the like.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a turning tool, a hollow cylindrical-like handle open on one end and the wall of which has a slot extending longitudinally from the open end, a sheet metal shell mounted within said handle and extending from the open end of said handle inwardly and having an open ended hollow portion centrally within said handle with the open end of the shell adjacent the open end of the handle and wall portions extending through said slot and continuing into an outer Cil '4 radially projecting iin-like portion, and a turning tool shank having a portion mounted in said open bottom hollow portion of said shell.

2. In a turning tool, a hollow cylindrical-like handle open on one end and the wall of which has a slot extending longitudinally from the open end, a sheet metal shell, open on the end adjacent the open end of the handle, mounted within said handle and extending inwardly from the open end of said handle and having a main hollow portion centrally within said handle and wall portions extending through said slot, said wall portions forming a relatively narrow laterally projecting open ended hollow portion opening into said main hollow portion and extending through said slot, said walls continuing laterally outwardly to form an outer radially projecting 1in-like portion, and a screw engaging shank having a portion engaging and mating in said main hollow portion and also having a key portion engaging and mating in said laterally projecting hollow portion.

3. In a turning tool, a hollow cylindrical-like handle open on one end and the wall of which has a slot extending longitudinally from the open end, a sheet metal shell, open on the end adjacent the open end of the handle, mounted within said handle and extending inwardly from the open end of said handle and having a main hollow portion centrally within said handle and wall portions extending through said slot, said wall portions forming a relatively narrow laterally projecting open ended hollow portion opening into said main hollow portion and extending through said slot, said walls continuing laterally outwardly to form an outer radially projecting fin-like portion, and a screw engaging shank having a portion engaging and mating in said main hollow portion and also having a key por- 40 tion engaging and mating in said laterally projecting hollow portion, and abutment plates mounted upon the inside walls of said second named hollow portion and engaging the sides of said key portion.

ALBERT T. LOEWY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 141,671 Shepardson Aug. 12, 1873 861,010 Zeman July 23, 1907 1,559,097 Hill Oct. 27, 1925 1,743,505 Turgeon Jan. 14, 1930 1,965,917 Anderholm July 10, 1934 1,980,087 Rastv Nov. 6, 1934 2,241,965 Sjorbring May 13, 1941 2,282,743 Pervier May 12, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 448,867 France Dec. 7, 1912 

